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#1 2022-12-26 05:41:52

redshoe
Member
Registered: 2015-12-16
Posts: 212

Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

I'm trying to find some information about dual booting of Arch Linux and Windows. The way that I would like to do is like the following. Given three different drives (USB drive, SSD #1, SSD #2, I would like to install Arch Linux first, setting the booting partition in the USB drive (in SSD #1), and then install Windows (SSD #2). Is this doable?

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#2 2022-12-26 14:19:45

Head_on_a_Stick
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From: London
Registered: 2014-02-20
Posts: 7,680
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Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

redshoe wrote:

setting the booting partition in the USB drive (in SSD #1)

What do you mean by this? Please provide the exact, full command(s) you intend to use to achieve that end.

Dual booting Windows from a separate drive is certainly possible with GRUB, if that's what you mean.

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#3 2022-12-26 19:47:38

redshoe
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Registered: 2015-12-16
Posts: 212

Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:
redshoe wrote:

setting the booting partition in the USB drive (in SSD #1)

What do you mean by this? Please provide the exact, full command(s) you intend to use to achieve that end.

Dual booting Windows from a separate drive is certainly possible with GRUB, if that's what you mean.

Yeah. Sorry for the confusing workding.

What I meant is this.

- Install Arch Linux on SSD #1 with the boot partition on USB drive.
- Install Windows 10 on SSD #2 with the boot partition on USB drive (as same as Arch Linux boot partition)

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#4 2022-12-26 20:04:52

Head_on_a_Stick
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From: London
Registered: 2014-02-20
Posts: 7,680
Website

Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

I would be very surprised if Windows would allow any of it to exist on a USB stick but I am not a Windows expert. Asking on a Windows forum might get a better response. I don't think Windows has a concept of "boot partition", unless you are referring to the EFI system partition. The general advice is to share a single EFI system partition between Arch & Windows and letting Windows create the ESP is the most reliable way of achieving this.

Why do you want a "boot partition" on a USB device? What are you trying to do?

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#5 2022-12-26 20:05:45

ewaller
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From: Pasadena, CA
Registered: 2009-07-13
Posts: 19,740

Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

Is the idea that the system will not be bootable with the USB drive removed?

What you propose is possible for Linux, but Windows may or may not permit that.  Unfortunately, that is not something we are going to be able to help with -- definitely not in our wheelhouse.


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Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine. -- Alan Turing
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#6 2022-12-26 20:26:01

redshoe
Member
Registered: 2015-12-16
Posts: 212

Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

Why do you want a "boot partition" on a USB device? What are you trying to do?

I thought I was very clear on what I wanted to do in my previous reply.

I want the boot partition on a USB drive because I do not want to create a boot partition on SSD #1 or #2. I just want it on physically separate drive.

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#7 2022-12-26 20:27:33

redshoe
Member
Registered: 2015-12-16
Posts: 212

Re: Dual boot: is it possible to use USB as a boot partition for Windows?

ewaller wrote:

Is the idea that the system will not be bootable with the USB drive removed?

What you propose is possible for Linux, but Windows may or may not permit that.  Unfortunately, that is not something we are going to be able to help with -- definitely not in our wheelhouse.

Yes, looking at it in terms of functionality, that is what I am trying to do.

Well, I just wanted to know if this is possible.

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